The basis of the narrative is Lynch has been a terrible draft generator since he’s been here. Focusing on the “worst” of the 49ers draft years (including 2022 and 2023), results in an overall drop of just about 2% in rostered players drafted and developed inside the building over multiple years. This means even eliminating their best draft years prior to 2022, the 49ers STILL sit solidly mid-pack in the NFL at a respectable 48-50% rate of draftees/UDFAs vs. trade/FA acquisitions. Drafting players, or signing post-draft UDFAs, that are not just starters, but solid depth pieces that remain on the roster 2-3 or more years later is a genuine metric for determining the value of team’s draft process. You can't evaluate draft success without considering the valuable depth players who are drafted then productive in support for years. These are guys that can make or break a team.
Multiple year value from homegrown players is an absolute, measurable component. Arbitrary values assigned to “reaching” off a consensus board created by people outside the building making lists in a vacuum, is not.
“I’d take Stribling over Cooper in a heartbeat.” Scot McCloughan
ReplyDelete“I liked him quite a bit, to tell you the truth Some people didn’t, and I don’t understand why, because he’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got good ball skills. And he made plays. I don’t understand why they’re questioning the pick. I’d take Stribling in a heartbeat over Cooper, because Stribling can run. Cooper is not a speed player at all. He’s like Deebo Samuel — just bulk up a little and do the dirty work. Stribling can do either/or. He can go outside and go vertical. You better hold on, because he can run.”
DeleteAsked an AFC front office executive how bad this year’s draft class was and he texted back:
ReplyDelete“The worst in decades. If he was in this year’s draft, Shedeur Sanders might have even gone in Round 4”.